Fall 2005/Pasadena
EV514
Watkins
EV514: URBAN EVANGELISM. Ralph C. Watkins.
DESCRIPTION: In this course we will examine evangelism from a historical and a
contemporary perspective. We will rely heavily on perspectives from Scripture
to inform our inquiry. We will also look at various strategies in urban
evangelism while visiting local ministries that are doing what we are
studying.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are five objectives to this course:
(1) that students understand and can articulate a coherent biblical,
historical, and theological basis of evangelism; (2) that students understand
the importance of urban sociology in the development and facilitation of a
potentially successful evangelism plan (how this translates into outreach);
(3) that students be aware of the institutional barriers to evangelism in
churches and para-church organizations; (4) that students be able to design an
effective evangelism plan; and finally (5) that students can better critique
outreach programs, organization, and activities in terms of their faithfulness
to theological traditions and effectiveness in reaching a particular audience
that will in turn motivate them to want to do evangelism.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The course is taught with a practical applied
focus. Students can expect to gain
- an understanding of the city as both environment and structure for
evangelism;
- an understanding of evangelism from biblical, historical, and theological
perspectives;
- an ability to plan outreach programs as well as critique outreach programs,
organization, and activities in terms of their faithfulness to theological
traditions and effectiveness in reaching particular audiences.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions. The
course will be discussion based. Students' active participation in every class
is expected. The course will be a centered around practical activities that
help students apply what they are learning. Multimedia approaches to learning
will be central to this course. Various songs, movie clips, documentaries, and
other cultural products will be used as a point of interrogation to consider
the promise of urban evangelism.
REQUIRED READING:
- Abraham, William J. The Logic of Evangelism. Eerdmans,
1989.
- Hooks, Bell. Where We Stand: Class Matters. Routledge, 2000.
- Pickard, Stephen K. Liberating Evangelism: Gospel, Theology and the
Dynamics of Communication. Trinity Press International, 1999.
- Richardson, Rick. Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People
Experience the Good News. InterVarsity Press, 2000.
- Wilson, William J., ed. The Ghetto Underclass: Social Science
Perspectives. Sage Publications, 1993.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- There will be weekly three-to-five-page reading/reflection papers due every
week (60%).
- An end-of-term project paper is expected reflecting the student's design
for an evangelism strategy adequate to the challenge of the city, which will
take seriously the urban situation, a theology of urban ministry, the
contribution of the social sciences, and the realistic possibilities within the
student's denominational or para-denominational frame of reference. The
end-of-term project will be ten to fifteen pages (40%).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Evangelism (MIN
3).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.